What is a Charter Public School?
California Charter Schools are Free, Public, and Open to All
California's charter schools are tuition-free, public, and open to all students. California charter public schools have rigorous curriculum programs and unique educational approaches. In exchange for operational freedom and flexibility, charter schools are subject to higher levels of accountability than traditional public schools. Charter schools offer high-quality education options to communities, especially with historically underserved students.
Over 30 Years of High-Quality Education in California
Many California charter school students made significantly greater progress in reading and math over the school year. One study showed Black students and Latino students gained a month or more of additional learning in reading and math at charter public schools over their peers in traditional public schools per year. See Report >>
High-quality elementary schools successfully prepare children for later learning and life in general. Discover California's best charter public elementary schools as ranked by U.S. News & World Report and Niche.
Successful middle schools put students on the right path toward success in high school and beyond. Discover California's best charter public middle schools as ranked by U.S. News & World Report and Niche.
Excellent public high schools can help students nurture their passions and reach their college or career aspirations. Discover California's best charter public high schools as ranked by U.S. News & World Report and Niche.
Get Real Stories from California's Charter Schools
A Critical Part of California’s Public School System
California charter public schools serve a greater percentage of historically underserved students than traditional public schools. California charter public schools serve a greater percentage of students in poverty, African American, and Latino students than traditional public schools. Students entering charter schools are more likely to be low performing and less likely to be high performing than their peers in traditional public schools. See Report >>